JESUS AND HIS INFINITE COMPASSION
Nothing in the history of the world has meant so much to humanity as the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ. He was born as a man, and lived and died as a man; but He was more than man. He was the Son of God, clothed in human flesh.
The God of the Christian is a God of love. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16 ). He, who had part in the creation of the world, the heavens, and everything therein, came to earth to teach man how to live, and to give Himself a ransom for sin.
Some people see in Christ only a great teacher. It is true that He was the greatest Teacher. But when John the Baptist, as he was baptizing on the banks of the Jordan river, saw Jesus coming to be baptized, he did not say, “Behold, a great teacher!” He cried out, “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). Jesus had come to offer Himself as the sacrificial Lamb of God, as well as to show man how to live.
Atonement
Many religions emphasize the need for atonement. The people feel that a sacrifice must be made to atone for their wrongdoing. Many will afflict themselves, causing bodily injury; others will offer animal sacrifices: and some will even sacrifice their own children. But none of these things can atone for our misdeeds, the sins we have committed. One of the ancient prophets of the Bible wrote: “Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?” (Micah 6:7). The answer was no. “What doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?” (Micah 6:8).
Jesus, through the Blood He shed on the Cross of Calvary, atoned for our sins and made it possible for us to live according to His requirements. Jesus proved that He was indeed the Christ, the Son of God, by rising again from the dead. He was seen alive by many people afterward, and He ate and drank with His friends before He ascended to Heaven.
Life-Giving Words
There have been many great teachers who have founded religions, but none of them ever laid down his life and had power to take it up again. Their teachings were often of great merit, but there was no power in those words to help the disciple to live according to the teaching. But Jesus said: “The words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life” (John 6:63). And another time He said: “The word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day” (John 12:48). These words are from the Bible.
Jesus taught the right way to live, and then through His death and resurrection made a way whereby we can obey His commandments. The Blood of Jesus atones for the sins of all who will believe on Him. “As many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name” (John 1:12). There is life in that name. Jesus said, “Because I live, ye shall live also” (John 14:19). “With the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation” (Romans 10:10).
Divine Compassion
When the news came to blind Bartimaeus, a beggar who sat beside the road where Jesus was passing one day while on earth, he began to cry out: “Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me.” The crowd tried to quiet him, but he cried out so much the more.
Jesus heard that cry, and He had compassion. He commanded the blind man to be brought. Jesus asked, “What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee?” The blind man put his whole life into his petition when he answered, “Lord, that I may receive my sight.” Jesus said, “Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee.” He received his sight at once and followed Jesus. His faith had saved him and healed him, and made him happy. (This incident is recorded in Luke 18:35-43 and in Mark 10:46-52).
Today Jesus is passing by, and is bidding: “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls” (Matthew 11:28-29). We cannot see Him passing by, but we can feel His tug at our heart. We can feel His wooing as He calls all the weary to rest.
In the Heart
God has reserved a place in the human heart to be occupied by Himself alone. Until God takes that place, the heart will yearn and strive for something – they know not what. Nothing will satisfy the heart but the love of Jesus.
The Spirit of God is faithful. When He sees honesty and integrity in a soul, a willingness to live as Jesus wants him to, He will pass by and call that one to follow Him. Jesus said: “Whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely” (Revelation 22:17).
Groping in Darkness
There are many blind people who spend all, do all they can to try to receive their sight. But there are untold millions who are deprived of spiritual sight who are unconcerned about it. They are blinded by the worship of the god of wealth, the god of pleasure, the god of immorality, or some other god! Through all Jesus’ ministry we find that He listened to all who called unto Him. The poor beggar cried out, “Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me,” and Jesus had mercy.
If you feel an emptiness in your life, if you are burdened with the cares of life, if you want to know what life is all about, come to Jesus. He has the answer for all your problems. There is nothing in this world that will satisfy the human heart. You can well afford to say, “Take the world, but give me Jesus.” Give your life to Him. Yield your will to His will. As you surrender you will feel a new power surge through you. You will feel the rest that Jesus gives.
“Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon” (Isaiah 55:7).